Furthermore, along the coast from Port Stephens to Ulladulla is an "enclave" of autumn rains. This includes Sydney, and forms a narrow coastal strip with heavy rains in February, March, April, May, and June, and moderate rains in the remaining months. An explanation of this is suggested in the following paragraphs, based on conditions in 1912.
During these autumn months the anticyclones move along latitudes of about 35° S. (In midwinter this path is along 28° and in midsummer along 42°. In Spring the paths are much the same as in autumn.)
About once a week during the autumn months of 1912 this coastal strip experienced rains, while the rest of New South Wales was dry. This rain generally accompanied south-east on-shore winds, in the front and north of a high, as shown in Fig. 59. Out of nineteen examples of this type of rain distribution, in autumn, 1912, no less than fifteen occurred when the "high" was centred about the Bass Straits. (Roughly, between Mt. Gambier and Gabo.)
Meteorological data for the following stations is given in the tables:—
Town. | State. | Height. | Distance from Coast. |
Description. |
Feet. | Miles. | |||
Wilcannia | New South Wales | 267 | 300 | An inland town in the Western Plains |
Dubbo | New South Wales | 870 | 200 | On the western slopes of the Divide |
Newcastle | New South Wales | .. | .. | Coastal town near boundary of uniform regions and autumn rains |
Sydney | New South Wales | 146 | .. | Capital, on the coast, with autumn maximum |
Moruya | New South Wales | .. | .. | Coastal town in the south |
Yass | New South Wales | 1,650 | 100 | On the western slopes of the Divide |
Kiandra | New South Wales | 4,640 | 100 | Highest town in Australia |
Sale | Victoria | .. | .. | Coastal town in drier region of Gippsland |
Melbourne | Victoria | 115 | .. | Capital, at south-west corner of uniform region |
Hobart | Tasmania | 160 | .. | Capital, on south-east of island |